The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

The Glorkian Warrior must leave his couch and face his heroic fate: to deliver a pepperoni pizza.

The three-eyed, cotton-candy–colored and wholly witless Glorkian Warrior meets his destiny one fateful night when a mysterious caller asks him to deliver a pizza. Guided by his trusty companion, the lemon yellow Super Backpack, he sets out to fulfill the mission—despite the fact that he’s not a pizza-delivery guy. A series of madcap mishaps ensues, and they encounter such strange and silly beings as a Gonk that likes to bonk, a lime green alien orphan from a pizza-snatching ship and a formidable Magic Robot with an explosive laugh. As zippy as a bowl of sugary cereal, the Glorkian Warrior and his motley crew snowball from one escapade to another at a comically frenetic pace, encountering explosions, blasting spaceships and punching himself in the face. While the Glorkian Warrior might not be the brightest star in the sky, his antics are consistently imaginative and outrageous, ideal for young readers who like a healthy helping of the absurd. Kochalka’s worlds are always winsome, strange and silly; this is certainly one of his stronger offerings.

Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.